COLCHESTER Zoo is hosting a ‘Wake Up With’ event for Zoo Pass holders to see the zoo in a different light.

Doors will open from 7.30am for an exciting and rare opportunity for Zoo Pass holders to see a variety of animals in the morning, and to enjoy some quiet time in the park prior to opening to the public.

Visitors can encounter orangutans, penguins, red pandas, guinea pigs, meerkats, goats and sheep, and many more.

Swim- Visitors can encounter the Patagonian Sea Lions throughout the day, and view them swimming from the popular underwater viewing tunnel. Swim- Visitors can encounter the Patagonian Sea Lions throughout the day, and view them swimming from the popular underwater viewing tunnel. (Image: Colchester Zoo)

They can also enjoy a half-price kids breakfast when purchasing an adults full English breakfast in the zoo’s Penguini Restaurant, from 7.30am to 11.30am.

There will also be loaded breakfast fries at Gormet Sausage.

Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible guardian over the age of 18, or they will not be admitted.

Annual Zoo Passes can be purchased on the zoo’s website and are fitting for families who visit the zoo more than twice a year.

Pass- Guests can purchase Zoo Passes on the Colchester Zoo website. Pass- Guests can purchase Zoo Passes on the Colchester Zoo website. (Image: Colchester Zoo)

Adults passes, aged 16-59, are £72.50 for the first purchase and £58 upon renewal.

Child passes, aged 3-15, are £52 for the first purchase and £41.60 upon renewal.

Seniors passes, aged 60 and over, are £62 for the first purchase and £49.60 on renewal.

Doors open from 7.30am on July 6.

The animal encounter timetable is as follows:

  • 7.45am- Rainforest Species (Rainforest Walkthrough)
  • 7.50am- Borean Orangutan (Rajang’s Forest, Outside Area)
  • 8.00am- Humboldt Penguin (Inca Trail)
  • 8.00am- Red Panda (Rivers Edge)
  • 8.10am- Guinea Pig (Familiar Friends)
  • 8.15am- Buffy-headed Capuchins (Next to Main Entrance)
  • 8.15am- Goats and Sheep (Colenso Village)
  • 8.15am- Slender-tailed Meerkat (Suricata Sanda)
  • 8.30am- Gelada Baboon (Gelada Plateau)
  • 8.30am- Cherry-crowned Mangabey (Out of Africa)
  • 8.30am- Komodo Dragon (Dragons of Komodo)
  • 8.45am- Smooth-coated Otter (Otter Creek)
  • 8.50am- Spotted Hyena (Edge of Africa)
  • 8.50am- Malayan Sun Bear (Bears of the Rising Sun, Upper Viewing Area)
  • 9.00am- Bush Dog (Lost Madagascar Train Station)
  • 9.00am- African Elephant (Elephant Kingdom, Outside Paddock)
  • 9.00am- Patagonian Sea Lion (Playa Patagonia)
  • 9.10am- African Species (Kingdom of the Wild, Outside Paddock)
  • 9.20am- Mandrill (Edge of Africa)